GNB Voc-Tech captures 4th voke title in 5 years

Behind 18 points and nine assists from Rileigh Avila, the Bears beat Greater Lowell 52-43 on Friday night in the State Large School Vocational Championship Game.

STAFF REPORT

For the fourth time in five years, GNB Voc-Tech has won a championship before the playoffs even start.

Behind 18 points and nine assists from Rileigh Avila, the Bears beat Greater Lowell 52-43 on Friday night in the State Large School Vocational Championship Game.

"They're a great group," coach Dave Harrison said. "They work really hard and they deserve it. The goal from the beginning of the year is to get where we were last year, and further."

That trip, which brought them to the TD Garden last year, starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday when the fourth-seeded Bears host fifth-seeded Holbrook in the quarterfinals of the Div. 3 South Tournament.

On Friday, the Bears (20-2) rode a strong game from Avila, who added four steals and four rebounds, plus key performances from Iris Rivera, Mikayla Roderick and Nakira Examond. Rivera finished with nine points and 10 boards, Roderick added nine points and six boards and Examond had 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, pulling her within 14 points of 1,000.

GNB Voc-Tech jumped out to a 17-5 lead and was up 34-18 at the half.

"We started off really well," Harrison said. "The girls understand they need to start out with intensity and get on top early."

Greater Lowell pulled within seven in the third quarter, but the Bears held them off in a physical game.